Mr. C. M. B. S. Chandrasekara

I am C.M.B.Sriyan Chandrasekara and currently serve as a Lecturer (Probationary) at the Department of Indian and Asian Dance in the Faculty of Dance and Drama of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo. Having joined the University in 2007 as a Visiting Accompanist, I advanced to the role of a Visiting Lecturer, Temporary Instructor and Instructor Gr III and Instructor Gr II to my current position as Lecturer (Probationary).

I currently teach Tabla, creative drums, creative music and accompanying Tabla for Kathak dance as well as the theoretical component of the above subjects. In addition, I am a Student Instructor, a Student Advisor and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Dance and Drama.

As an individual who engages in experimental research, I am currently carrying out a research on Female Percussion Art in Sri Lanka. As an extension of this research, I have formed and act as the Director of ‘Thuryaa – Women’s Drums Ensemble’, the first professional all-female percussion band in Sri Lanka. This band, which consists exclusively of undergraduates of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, was formed in 2015. It currently tours the world and has won several prestigious international awards and consistently receives plaudits on the world stage, both for its musical prowess and its strong female empowerment message.

In terms of educational qualifications, in 2007 I obtained a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Special) in Music with First Class Honors and in 2018 I obtained the Postgraduate Diploma in Performing Arts (Special) in Music. To further my professional career, I undertook a Staff Development Certificate Course and to further my academic career, I am currently studying for a short course in Performing Arts Research.

As a musical composer, I have contributed to movie soundtracks, most notably for two feature film productions of the university titled ‘Lihini’ in 2017 and ‘Akyala’ in 2018.

I have produced many experimental compositions for around 15 years for percussion art. The two artists I trained and composed music for went on to win 2nd place at the ‘Sri Lankan Life’ musical competition conducted by Sri Lanka’s state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation in 2009. As the Director of ‘Thuryaa – Women’s Drums Ensemble’, the first professional all female percussion band in Sri Lanka, I have managed to explore different aspects of percussion music. This band has taken part in international festivals in India, Taiwan, Thailand and China and gained invaluable experience to enrich percussion music in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, with the intention of blending modern contemporary music and local traditional dance, I am currently engaged in an experimental creative process to compose music for dance.

I have also contributed towards several socially and nationally important organizations and movements as a composer on a voluntary basis. These include the theme song for the island-wide counselling service ‘Sri Lanka Sumitrayo’ and the theme song for the social activism movement ‘Renaissance’.

Research Interests:

Music Directing & Composing, Percussion Music & Tabla, Music Research

Publications:

Awards:

• Best Music Award – 18th Global female folk dance competition- India 2015

Other Links :

Google Scholar   |  ResearchGate